Trump's Midterm Travel, Ukraine Starshield Restrictions, Houthis Attack Aramco

Michel Martin (0:02)

President Trump campaigned in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday, two states he won in 2024

Steve Inskeep (0:07)

As part of a midterm campaign tour through Republican territory, why is the party playing defense on Trump's turf?

Michel Martin (0:14)

I'm Michelle Martin, that's Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News.

Ukraine uses US satellite technology to control its drones, technology that stopped working like it used to. Was the Trump administration trying to limit Ukraine's ability to fight Russia?

Steve Inskeep (0:31)

Also Houthis in Yemen say they are the ones who set part of Aramco's headquarters on fire and they're threatening to attack more targets. How are Saudi Arabia's allies responding to escalating attacks? Stay with us, we've got the news you need to start your day.

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Steve Inskeep (1:57)

President Trump told people to vote as if he is on the ballot and he's traveling as if he is.

Donald Trump (2:03)

And hello to the great state of Texas. Thank you. Ohio, we love you. God bless you. So ladies and gentlemen of Nebraska, special place. I love it. Three times, three times. Thank you very much. Hello, Montana. We love you, Montana.

We love you.

Michel Martin (2:22)

The president's itinerary suggests how he or his advisors see the election. We just heard him in a series of red states, including some, where Republicans are vulnerable.

Steve Inskeep (2:31)

NPR senior political correspondent, Tamara Keith, has been watching where the president goes and where he doesn't. Tam, good morning.

Tamara Keith (2:37)

Good morning.

Donald Trump (2:38)

Okay.

Steve Inskeep (2:38)

What do those stops tell us?

Tamara Keith (2:39)

Well, in some ways, it's what you'd expect to be happening in a year that is going to be tough for Republicans, a midterm with a president whose approval is in deeply negative territory.

Other presidents in similar situations have really limited their travel to friendly territory. And for Trump, some of these recent stops have been to exceedingly friendly territory, like Tennessee.

Donald Trump (3:04)

These guys are all going to win. These congressmen are phenomenal. So I'm saying, what the hell am I doing in Tennessee?

And in a way, I'm here because you want to reward the places that have automatically treated you well.

Steve Inskeep (3:21)

The places that are automatic. Okay. But is there also a political logic for an unpopular president to be traveling to places where people still love him?

Tamara Keith (3:29)

I mean, he is saying that it's a thank you really. But you know, most of these stops aren't just about feeling the warm embrace of an adoring rally crowd. The map of competitive House and Senate races includes a lot of states and districts Trump won by healthy margins just two years ago.

Republicans are playing defense in Alaska, Texas, Iowa, Ohio, and now even Kansas. I caught Republican Party Chairman Joe Gruters on the phone yesterday from a Trump rally in Arizona.

And he said Trump's team is picking locations where he can activate the Republican base.

And those are places where he's done well in the past.

Greg Myre (4:10)

It's turnout, turnout, turnout. How do you get the base to show up? You put the president on the ballot, you put him out there.

Steve Inskeep (4:17)

Okay, he seems to be echoing the president's call to act as if Trump is on the ballot.

Tamara Keith (4:21)

Yeah, and President Trump really wants loyal MAGA voters to pretend he's on that ballot. But this seems to have its limits. I want to take you back to September 2nd. President Trump held a dinner in the White House Rose Garden for candidates in competitive races, and he pledged to spend the month before the election campaigning with all of them.